Create Cylinders

Use the Solids: Cylinder tool to create cylinders with solid or bounding surfaces.

  1. From the 3D ribbon, click the Solids > Cylinder tool.


    Figure 1.
  2. Create a cylinder using one of the following methods:
    Method Procedure
    By Plane
    1. Click By Plane from the selector on the guide bar.
    2. Left-click on geometry or in space to create the center point for the cylinder's base.
    3. Hold the middle mouse button and drag to manipulate the vector defining the plane for the cylinder's base.
    4. Click the Play button on the guide bar.
    5. Left-click and drag in empty space to draw the cylinder's base.
    6. Release the mouse button and move the mouse to set the height of the cylinder.
    7. Left-click to create the cylinder.
    8. Click Plane on the guide bar to define another cylinder in a new plane.
    Free Drawing
    1. Click Free Drawing from the selector on the guide bar.
    2. Left-click and drag on geometry or in empty space and draw the cylinder's base.
    3. Hold the middle mouse button and drag to manipulate the vector defining the plane for the cylinder's base.
    4. Move the mouse to set the height of the cylinder.
    5. Left-click to finish creating the cylinder.
    Fit To
    1. Click Fit To from the selector on the guide bar.
    2. Select Surfaces, Solids, or Components from the selector on the guide bar.
    3. Left-click to select a corresponding surface, solid, or component on the model. A cylinder will display.
    4. Use the move tool to modify the cylinder, if necessary.
    5. Click the Play button on the guide bar to finish creating the cylinder.
  3. Modify the size and location of the cylinder in the following ways:
    • Resize the cylinder by editing the radius and height in the microdialogs and pressing Enter.
    • Click on a face of the cylinder and drag the slider to adjust the size.
    • Click to translate and rotate the cylinder using the Move tool.
    • Click to fit the cylinder around a selected object.
    • Click to fill the shape.
Tip: While placing or editing the sphere, use snap points to snap to pre-defined points on your model, such as surface boundary fixed points or mid points of surfaces.